YEAR of the WATER YANG DRAGON:Begins 23 January 2012through 9 February 2013

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>2011-2012
Year of the Metal Yin Rabbit: archived 7 January 2012 2013's Year of the Water
Snake begins 10 February 2013<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Kuan Yin pours the spiraling elixir of life over Eurasiawhile the Blue Dragon of Healing returns the moon(Courtesy of Sandra
Stanton)__________________________________________________________

Author's Note:Late afternoon of New Year's Day 2012

As I wrote on last year's Lunar New
Year page for the Metal Rabbit Year, I was born in an Earth Rabbit Year.
Frankly, however, were I to choose an animal for myself, it would not be
a rabbit. The owl or dragon would be more likely, or the sea-goat,
the Great Bear (Ursa Major), the Siberian Deer-Mother, or Grandmother-Spiderwoman
from the American Southwest.

But Chinese Lunar New Year does not include
owls, sea-goats, bears, deer, or nimble spiders. Its line-up is:
Rat, Horse, Ox, Sheep, Tiger, Monkey, Rabbit, Rooster, Dragon, Dog,
Snake, and Pig. Of those, only the dragon would find a place among
my chosen "totems." So although this current Rabbit year has treated me
more kindly than most recent Lunar Years, working on this Water Dragon
page (expanding it from my Metal Dragon page for the year 2000) , brings
a special sense of pleasure.

This Year of the Water Dragon looks better
than 2011 in some areas, but the outlook on the environmental front (especially
as regards powerful earthquakes) remains sobering. As the old saying
goes, "Forewarned is forearmed." May the world's leaders act wisely,
compassionately, and with restraint, putting humanity as a whole -- and
the planet that is our endangered habitat -- ahead of their self-serving
loyalties.

This is Shelly Wu's Chinese Astrology site. From year to
year, she keeps an upbeat, sensible approach that I really enjoy.
Here is how she opens her page on the Year of the Water Dragon, a generally
auspicious year, according to Chinese astrology:

Beginning on January 23, 2012 the
flamboyant Dragon will fill the skies with fireworks as we enter into the
new year of the Water (Black) Dragon!

As was the case in the previous Dragon year
of 2000 twelve years ago, we find ourselves, again, bombarded by prophets
of doom preaching apocalypse. Twelve years ago, as the millennium change
of 2000 approached, computer experts warned of a coming collapse. This,
of course, didn’t occur, but some of the "fixes" and patches put into place
in hopes of circumventing problems, caused problems of their own.

As we approach the year 2012, believers
and skeptics alike are studying the Mayan calendar and eschatology (the
branch of theology concerned with final events or the end of the world).
As a myriad of experts and self-styled prophets announce the impending
end of the world on 12-21-12. What does Chinese astrology have to say on
the subject?

It probably won't surprise you, but
swimming against the current, it actually predicts a better future for
mankind. According to this 6,000 year old art, our planet should progress
quite nicely in the next two years. 2012 and 2013 correspond to the ‘lucky’
Dragon, and the ‘wise’ Snake years; the Dragon and the Snake together make
up the life-palace of Spirituality.

2012 will bring opportunities to awaken
your own higher consciousness and eliminate negativity, limitations and
disease from your life. And if that isn't exciting enough for you, just
wait until 2013's philosophical Snake year approaches bringing with it,
cosmic awareness, sage spirituality, and integration with Source.

Naturally, there will be earthquakes,
floods, fires, tornadoes, wars, and so on during the next two years, but
according to the Chinese calendar and astral picture from the eastern perspective;
there is nothing that would indicate an apocalypse or end of the world
as we know it....

Unlike the other animals of the Chinese
zodiac, the Dragon is a mythical creature, and the sign of good luck and
vital health. Unlike the frightening Dragons of Western mythology, Chinese
Dragons are benevolent creatures who live in the heavens and command the
cosmos; wind, mist, rain, thunder and lightning....

2012 opens communication to the inner
spiritual planes (as above, so below) and the opportunity for humanity
to receive Divine guidance. 2012 will be a very special time for
humankind …Let the Dragon lend you his wings to progress beyond what you
think is possible for yourself. The reward will be an understanding
of personal truths that may, very well, change your life forever.

In addition to this interesting introductory material, Wu also includes
Water Dragon Year readings for each of the other signs in the Chinese zodiac.

Dragon surrounded by an aura of vast cosmic energy[Artist unknown: freeware from several years ago on
Witch
Way]

A somewhat darker view comes from Grand Master Raymond Lo,
whose predictions cover a wider range of political, economic, environmental,
and health issues. FYI: if his webpage were to be printed out, it would
run about 6 single-spaced pages, so there is much more (some of it quite
technical) than these few excerpts might suggest:

...The Year of the Dragon – 2012 in
the Hsia calendar, is symbolized by two elements; with water sitting on
top of earth. According to the cycle of birth and destruction,
which governs the inter-relationship between the elements, earth is the
destroyer of water and so they are on the destructive cycle and have a
conflict relationship. This aspect is the same as the year of the Rabbit
in 2011, which is metal over wood, also conflicting elements. Such conflicting
elements usually mean the year will not be peaceful with more international
conflicts and struggles coming up.

But after this comparison between 2011 and 2012,
both of which show earth and water in a "destructive cycle," Master Lo
then points out an important difference:

However in 2011, the metal element
can symbolize a weapon or a dagger, but in 2012 the earth and water conflict
is just disharmony with less implication of war and fierce fighting. The
yang water this year symbolizes the ocean and is an element of power, forces
and strong energy. It could be the destructive force of nature, such as
the tsunami or it can be the impulse and drive to press for social,
political and economic changes. The yang water is also a symbol of intelligence,
courage, generosity and charity. If the energy is guided in a positive
direction it can bring a fast pace towards progress and reform.
The earth element under the water is a Dragon, which is also considered
as storage of water. So the two elements (water on dragon) is not as serious
in terms of conflict as the last two years of metal over wood. In general
we cannot expect a total peaceful world in 2012, but there will not be
so much violent fighting and struggles like the previous metal wood years
of 2010 and 2011.

There is always a trade-off, however, and this
one could be severe:

But the more worrying aspect this
year is natural disasters such as flooding and earthquakes. Yang water
is powerful ocean water and Dragon is powerful earth, often associated
with earthquakes. In history the most serious earthquake on record happened
in the years of Dragon. Here below are the serious earthquakes
of the last 5 Dragon years,1952 ( Water Dragon), 1964 ( Wood Dragon
), 1976 ( Fire Dragon ), 1988 ( Earth Dragon ), and 2000 ( Metal Dragon).

The biggest magnitude earthquake ever recorded
was in a Dragon year. It measured 9.2 on the Richter Scale and occurred
in Alaska in 1964. The most devastating earthquake also occurred in a Dragon
year in Tangshan, China in 1976 and killed over 250,000 people. As such
it is quite logical to forecast that serious earthquakes will also occur
in this Water Dragon year of 2012.

In Chinese Metaphysics the term Dragon symbolizes
the massive mountain range, the powerful energy of the land and is strong
earth element. So an active dragon indicates strong movement of the earth....
[for
technical reasons, Dragon years, also Dog years, disable any help that
might otherwise be forthcoming from helpful deities, angels, devas, etc
-- thus--] the disasters usually will have
higher death tolls or casualties....

...The Chinese character for ‘Yang water’ represents
a powerful ocean and can also symbolize the quality of an enthusiastic,
energetic, courageous, forceful and somewhat impulsive person. Water in
general is associated with intelligence and skill. Such qualities are often
found in people in the performance arts, as well as people who love to
explore new and innovative ideas....

...As I have already mentioned, the Dragon
is a powerful earth element and is also regarded as ‘storage of water’.
Its powerful earth quality often triggers massive earthquakes and earth
related disasters such as collapse of buildings, mining disasters, landslide,
avalanches…etc. Being storage of water it can also release a massive amount
of water....

...The positive quality of the water
dragon is that yang water is a generous element and a powerful driving
force towards progress and social changes, so it will be an energetic year
with new movements, changes, reform in politics and social establishment.
Also there could be generous donations towards charitable goals and the
well being of the community. 2012 is also an election year
so there will be Presidential election in the United States, Russia, Taiwan,
France and India, as well as election of the Chief Executive in Hong Kong.
Such elections also provide drive for progress, changes and courageous
reforms....

Master Lo then looks at how this Dragon year will
effect most of the other signs. After that section, he considers general
health issues:

The Five basic elements represent
different parts of our body and water in general relates to the kidney,
immune system, sexual organs and the urinary system. As such health issues
related to a Water year could include kidney problem, kidney stone, sexual
organ problem, inflammation of urinary tract, virus and bacterial infection.
The Dragon earth is cells, muscle and stomach and as previously mentioned,
an excessive amount of earth is the cause of cancer. Both water and earth
elements will also weaken fire which symbolize blood circulation and the
heart. These kinds of health problems will be more acute in the coming
year and therefore it is important to take more COQ10 and anti–oxidant
as a preventive measure.

He then takes a lengthy, intriguing look at 2012,
the I Ching, the Mayan calendar, Dragon Year, and winter solstice
of 2012. Here's an excerpt on the I Ching and what Terrence McKenna
did with it:

...As such the I Ching itself actually
did not predict the world will end in 2012. At best one can only say it
provided inspiration for McKenna to invent his Time Wave Theory. The original
meaning of the last two Hexagrams, "After Completion" and "Before Completion,"
do not imply the end of the world. To the contrary it implies there is
no ending, as the change is not yet completed. It is like many cyclical
changes in nature as when one year’s four seasons finishes, another new
years four seasons begins. So therefore this theory is inaccurate and it
is certainly not fair to say that the 2012 doomsday is predicted in the
I
Ching.... So 2012 is definitely not even near the end of the world.
However the winter solstice date of 21/12/2012 is a day with a strong presence
of powerful water elements....

The combination of elements on this day shows
powerful water as well as Dragon and Dog clash and it will not be surprising
if earthquake and flooding occur. However there is absolutely no indication
that this day will be the end of the world....

On economics:

With regard to the economy, the fire
element is often the driving force behind the stock market.
The five elements also affect people’s mood. In general fire is joy, water
is fear, earth is meditation, metal is sadness, and wood is anger.
As such a fire year often generates optimism and drives up the stock market,
such as in 2006 and 2007. However in 2008 the water arrived and obviously
people began to have fear regarding the worsening of the USA sub-prime
and following recession.

In 2009 there was pure earth on earth. The
earth element stopped the water and also symbolized meditation. So it means
people will be conservative and play safe, but gain more stability.
In 2010 the Tiger carried the seed of fire element and so there was a substantial
economic recovery with stronger optimism beginning in the spring season.
There was a short setback with the economic crisis in Greece and Portugal
in late spring, but with summer fire coming in May the stock market recovered
with strong momentum.

In 2011 the Rabbit is pure wood. However it
is not as strong as the Tiger in generating fire, so the economy was not
as fast moving as the previous year. There was also strong summer fire
supported by wood in 2011, so the stock market continued to be vibrant
and active in the first half of 2011. In August when autumn arrived and
there was no more fire support, a serious setback then occurred in the
second half of 2011.

With strong water coming in 2012 we must be
wary of more setbacks. As the coming year is water and earth with
a continual absence of fire element, this could mean that the economic
activities and stock market will further slow down. The strong water in
the year is also likely to create the mood of water (which is fear) and
people will therefore be less optimistic. This will become more serious
in the winter months of October and November when the economic crisis in
certain European countries may deepen and cause downturn in the global
economy and stock market. Investors should enter a cautionary period, especially
in the second half of 2012.

He then offers predictions concerning various
industries -- here is how he finally sums it all up:

In summary the industries that will
perform well in the year of the Dragon will be industries related to the
Wood and Earth elements. Wood industries are textile, fashion, consumer
products, paper, books, environment industry, forestry, furniture etc.
Metal industry is active but not making obvious profit as their money element
(wood) is absent. The metal industries are banking, machinery,
engineering, computer and high tech. Water industry will enter a year of
caution with some instability factors as their money element of fire is
totally absent. The sectors relating to water are shipping, communication,
drinks, and spa. Earth industry will move ahead with conservatively as
earth sees water as money, but sees Dragon earth as a competitor. Fire
industry including stock market, finance, energy and entertainment may
not do very well as their money element of metal is absent and the strong
water suppresses optimism in the financial market.

To summarize further, the Yang Water Dragon
year, with water on top and earth below, is a symbol of powerful energy
and enthusiasm for progress and change. Such a powerful force of ocean
water not only brings drive for social and political changes and reforms,
but will also bring natural disasters such as flooding and earthquake.
There will still be conflict and disharmony in international relationships
and it may not be a peaceful year, but the international clashes are less
violent than the last two years of metal over wood. Also there is some
improvement on the environmental situation, but disease and epidemic will
still prevail.

The Dragon is powerful earth, as well as storage
of water, so the focus of this year is big earthquakes with serious casualties.
Water also represents courage, charity and generosity. So this year we
will see more charitable actions and a good humanitarian spirit to support
the needy and poor and those people who suffer damage from natural disasters.
The year 2012 will also see many presidential elections being held in various
countries, including the United States, India, Taiwan, and France, as well
as the election of the Chief Executive in Hong Kong. So there will be changes
bringing about a new phase to the politics of these countries and this
is also a sign of bold progress and reform brought about by the powerful
ocean water of the year.

As always, this annual essay is lengthy but worth reading. Even
if he's wrong about certain specifics, it can't hurt to be extra cautious
about his findings which deal with problem areas.

[Updated for 2012]:
This is a page chockfull of odd bits of information about each Chinese
Lunar New Year, Chinese astrology ("fortune-telling"), and much more.
The site looks at the fortune-telling aspect of the year in conjunction
with wood, metal, fire, earth, and water elements in an individual's astrology
chart -- there is enough information here to let you see how immensely
complex it really is. You would need to have your own chart cast
according to Chinese rules to make sense of it but the site does offer
a page in which you can at least insert your birth data to get an entry-level
chart that will help clarify your own personal "luck." (Also see this
page from the same site:http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/2011ChineseHoroscope.htm,
which offers more complex data.)

[2 January 2012]:
This excellent site tends to be late in updating their annual Lunar New
Year pages. Be patient -- it's worth the wait. (See below for their
general page on individuals born in Dragon years.)

These are terrific "interactive" animated stories on Asian
& European Dragons -- the eight little "chapters" each
take a few minutes to load, but they're worth the wait (you can choose
versions with or without sound). [This site is double-linked
on my Dragons & Serpents page].

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHChinese Lunar New Year:People Born in a Dragon YearHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHJade DragonFrom a 1,000 year old Song Dynasty jade
artifact collection[see directly above and below]

[Sidebar 1/26/09]:This
is a very handsome site and I am sorry to see that its owner has let it
vanish (I tried emailing him today but even the email address is gone).
It's a relief to know that it's still temporarily available on Web Archive
with its wonderful jade images. I hope it will remain there safely.

[Original annotation]:
Here again the focus is on the personalities of those born in each of the
12 Chinese zodiac signs. In addition to a survey of characteristics of
each sign, there is also a jade animal representing each sign -- these
come from a 1,000 year old Song Dynasty jade artifact collection
of the 12 Zodiac Animals. The photos of these jade pieces are large and
detailed -- many are really quite lovely. [Note: for those interested
in jade, click on Chronological
History and you'll find a treasure trove of beautifully illustrated
pages (including maps) of jade art from Chinese dynasties from Neolithic
times through the Qing Dynasty.]

[Updated for 2012]:
Here is the entry for people born in a Dragon Year:

DRAGON People are balls of fire! They
are full of vitality and love of life. Always on the run, they drag their
faithful band of admirers behind them. DRAGON People are egotistical, eccentric,
demanding, and giving. They are proud, direct, and loaded with high ideals,
which they always try to live up to. Having a zeal for life, they want
to live it on a grand scale. They have the potential for accomplishing
many great things as long as they don't get too far ahead of themselves.
When DRAGON People do something, good or bad, you can be certain their
deeds do not go unnoticed! Dragons are always making the news. It is next
to impossible to win an argument with Dragon people. They intimidate anyone
who challenges them. Once you arouse their anger, they keep after you for
a very long time. DRAGON People are extremely loyal to friends and family.

This is from the Holy Mountain Tea Trading Company in San
Francisco, one of my favorite sources for Chinese astrological information.
Here are some excerpts from their always insightful comments, this time
on Dragon people:

Force and power are the symbols attributed
to the Dragon. There is a decidedly exotic air about Dragon people, especially
among the women, who fairly exude sexuality. Indeed, whether male or female,
Dragons are libidinous and score quite a hit with the opposite sex.

To the Chinese, the Dragon is born in the most
desirable year, blessed by the gods and goddesses in heaven. Possessing
magical powers, the versatile Dragon is capable of soaring to the highest
heavenly heights or diving to the depths of the sea. On one hand shrewd,
healthy and full of vitality, the Dragon also possesses a mystical side,
intuitive, artistic and strangely lucky. However, Dragons can plunge pretty
low, becoming irritable, stubborn and impetuous. The Dragon's mystical
allure may become a bit too other worldly, making him or her difficult
to get close to. A Dragon's unsatisfactory love life may lead to a string
of loves and marriages. Believing themselves invincible, Dragons must beware
of excesses, for with their uncommon strength, they can harm themselves,
or "scorch their wings"....

...Another difficulty for the Dragon is that
life experiences are very intense. There are no casual friendships for
Dragon; every interaction is a continuation of heavy pastlife karma that
must be resolved now, as if ten lifetimes were being lived out in the current
incarnation.... Dragons may devote themselves to a great cause or work,
and if so, they will see it through to the end. This talent work two ways,
as they can be equally devoted to a bad cause and equally successful in
it. Dragons can't help but win!....

Since Dragons are not prone to marrying young,
many committed bachelors and spinsters are born under the influence of
this sign; truthfully, the Dragon may be happier alone. In any partnership
Dragon folk will first and foremost seek an intellectual rapport, because
these people get as much of a charge from mental stimulation as they do
from having sex....

...May is the month of the Dragon. The time
of the Dragon is from 7:00 a.m. to 8:59 a.m.; their direction of orientation
is east-southeast. The Dragon's color is aquamarine....

[Updated for 2012]:
This is "Astro-Chinese" -- a simple-looking little site that I enjoy.
Here is how it introduces the Year of the Dragon:

The impressive Dragon descends upon
us all with an almighty bang, and everything this year will be done on
a grand scale, fortunes as well as disasters. Think big, think grand, think
with magnanimity – for the Dragon despises anything little or petty, and
be prepared to be astounded by the force of what can take place this exhilarating
year.

This site is the only one I've found that showcases and explains personality
differences between the five various elemental modalities of each animal.
Thus, for dragons, we have:

THE FIVE TYPES OF DRAGONS

The Metal Dragon: 1940,2000: “ The Iron-Willed
Dragon”This forceful Dragon is a warrior in every
sense. He fights for his cause with integrity, dignity and truthfulness,
regarding his beliefs with fanatical intensity. An action man, he wastes
to time with those he deems unworthy, concentrating his efforts in enlisting
the company of those he feels are on the same level as he, morally, socially
and mentally. But if they if they disagree with his will, this Dragon does
not hesitate to go off on his own, feeling perfectly capable of defeating
whatever needs to be defeated with his one- man army.

The Water Dragon: 1952: “The Liberal
Dragon”Softened by the water element, this Dragon
is less selfish, more patient and less likely to hold grudges. He believes
that everybody is entitled to his opinion, and can put aside his ego for
the greater good. Wise in business, he has brilliant timing and an eye
for opportunity which he rarely lets pass him by. With a knack for marketing
his dazzling ideas and negotiating it to his advantage, he uses patience
(seldom seen in Dragons) to see things through to success.

The Wood Dragon: 1904, 1964: “ The
Innovative Dragon”This creative Dragon is an explorer by nature,
always coming up with ground-breaking thoughts and ideas. He enjoys investigating
these concepts to the fullest, investigating the eternal how’s, why’s,
the cause and effects. Nonetheless, he possesses the ability and the drive
to put these original ideas into action, using diplomacy and an astute
sense for business.

The Fire Dragon: 1916, 1976: “The
Ambitious Dragon”Driven, competitive and with a tremendous
desire for success, this Dragon demands the a lot from everyone (and we
mean everyone). She frequently comes across as pushy and dictatorial, with
an air of superiority that scares people into thinking she expects them
to get down and do fifty push-ups at the snap of her fingers. Despite her
righteous and over-zealous way of imposing her will on others, inside she
is a generous and truthful humanitarian. If she could learn to communicate
more humbly and less brutally, she has the strength of character to build
empires and lead nations.

The Earth Dragon: 1928, 1988: “The Dignified
Dragon"The aristocrat of Dragons, he keeps his poise
and refuses to go down to levels he feels is beneath him. More stable,
solid and self-controlled than his fellow hot-headed Dragons, he tends
to reflect and organize his thoughts before acting upon them. He has a
wide variety of interests, and an even larger circle of friends and admirers.

As you can see, each of the above comes with a
brief but nicely expanded description. Then there is a succinct,
breezy section on compatibilities with other signs. There are also
lists of artistic, scientific, showbiz, musical, political & royal
dragons, etc. All in all, a charming little page.

[Updated for 2011]:
This is another site focusing on personalities determined by the Chinese
zodiac. Each zodiac sign is given its own page (with a search
engine at the top for other signs). About the Dragon, here are
some excerpts:

... Dragons are a tenacious Sign who knows exactly what it wants and is
determined to get it.

Dragons possess a certain natural,
charming charisma that ensures they always remain the center of attention
in social situations.

Dragons are considered to be very lucky in
relationships.Their friends and partners are always keen to hear what the
dragon has to say....

Emotionally, the dragons cannot digest failure.They
make hue and cry over defeat and can't accept it with grace.

Power is what the Dragon wants and truly believes
it deserves. They always crave for the role of leader....knowing instinctively
what needs to be done to stay on top.

It would be in the interests of Dragons if
they absorb the principles of flexibility, compassion and tolerance. Being
high and mighty can serve to inspire others, but it also keeps Dragons
from living their lives to the fullest.

[Updated for 2012]:
This site looks at Chinese Zodiac Animals with good, often detailed data
not found elsewhere but you have to navigate through 8 individual horoscope-style
categories (click on these along the blue bar near top of page for love,
finances, etc). This is a difficult site to navigate if you're looking
for the rest of the zodiac but in 2009,
one
link on the Wood Ox page finally took me to the full zodiac
(depicted by too "cute" animals). It should not have been this hard
to find the main page but the site is still worth a look. For example,
here's the entry for Dragons:

General Description of All Dragons:
The key to the Dragon personality is that Dragons are the free spirits
of the Zodiac. Conformation is a Dragon's curse. Rules and regulations
are made for other people. Restrictions blow out the creative spark that
is ready to flame into life. Dragons must be free and uninhibited. The
Dragon is a beautiful creature, colorful and flamboyant. An extroverted
bundle of energy, gifted and utterly irrepressible, everything Dragons
do is on a grand scale - big ideas, ornate gestures, extreme ambitions.
However, this behavior is natural and isn't meant for show. Because they
are confident, fearless in the face of challenge, they are almost inevitably
successful. Dragons usually make it to the top. However, Dragon people
be aware of their natures. Too much enthusiasm can leave them tired and
unfulfilled. Even though they are willing to aid when necessary, their
pride can often impede them from accepting the same kind of help from others.
Dragons' generous personalities give them the ability to attract friends,
but they can be rather solitary people at heart. A Dragon's self-sufficiency
can mean that he or she has no need for close bonds with other people.

[Updated for 2012]:
In
2008, this little page focused very nicely on what each individual sign
could expect in the Rat Year. I found the simplicity of taking that
single focus appealing (sometimes, a more global approach can overwhelm
a reader). Since 2009, however, the format has changed. I prefer
2008's approach but the site is still worth a look. I still like
the sensible disclaimer at the end:

Remember, whatever the omens portend,
for better or worse, you are the final master of your own fate.

These ideas are provided for your enjoyment
and amusement and are not meant to take the place of your own good sense.

[Updated for 2012]:
Zany,
witty, often shallow, sometimes unexpectedly deep, this odd site provides
just about anything you ever wanted to know about the dragon from a zillion
perspectives. It seems to go on forever with its goofy graphics,
video clips (e.g. Puff, the Magic Dragon), and silliness.
But it's entertaining and great fun to explore!!

Metal Dragon page, the first in this Myth*ing Links
series, begun 17 January 2000;page annotated and published 24 January 2000.

Latest Updates:26 January 2000; 2 February 2000; 3 April 2000.17 January 2001: gave this page a new URL --
I'm retaining the other one for all current Lunar New Year pages;no links have been updated here -- all still work
but some already refer to the Snake Year instead of the Dragon.10 November 2001: removed a link that no longer
offers appropriate data.3 May 2011: in header, added "Metal" to Dragon
(this was my first Lunar New Year page& I hadn't yet started adding the elements to
the animals for each year).I've leaving the page's URL unchanged (i.e., no "metal"
in it) to avoid a mess of further changes.

Note to me, 3 May
2011: I updated a few things here. This will be the first year for
which I've already done the beastie -- so this means keeping what's
relevant here but also adding new links I've found over the past decade
-- i.e., replace these with updated versions where necessary, keep all
the rest, and layer-in rest of the current additions from previous years.
It might be a bit tricky and I haven't figured out a classy way to do it
yet. ::sigh:: I'm leaving this note because I doubt I'll remember
this by next December/January! Keep the same art as it continues
the water theme perfectly.

1 January 2012, 3-6am: began updating
this 2000 page for 2012, which means deleting files moved in 2001
to the "General Lunar New Year" page. They'll still remain
on the 2000 Metal Dragon page but not on this 2012
Water
Dragon page. Later, same day, from 12:30-6:30pm, found new images
and grokked Master Lo's lengthy website.2nd and 3rd January 2012: spent most of both
days groking and updating sites, finding new art, etc, etc. These
Lunar New Year pages require immense concentration because of all their
many details and pitfalls.7 January 2012, 6:20pm: archived Rabbit Year
and launched this Dragon Year.8 January 2012, 10:55pm: spent the day updating
Common
Themes East & West: Dragons & Serpents -- added link at top
of this page. It will also work for next year's Serpent Year.17 January 2012, 7:45pm: added new Dragon Art
page (was "pending" until today) & also 1/11/12's Dragon/Tiger Starlore,
Zodiac, etc page.

In Genesis, Noah was directed to rescue
all species against a time of growing danger. We are again in such a time.
Yet each of us is already a Noah's Ark filled with countless, unsuspected,
interspecies lifetimes. This means we can be far more than sorrowing
observers of animal exploitation and extinction. We can reconnect
with our own secret wisdom, our own animal cunning, and join together to
protect all species....